Victoria police respond to family violence risk during ‘very stressful time’ of coronavirus

Of the approximately 7,000 calls relating to family violence made to Victoria police in the past month, 14% have related to Covid-19, the state’s deputy police commissioner, Shane Patton, said on Tuesday.

When police attended those incidents they were told by the alleged victim or alleged perpetrator that having to stay at home together had exacerbated animosity. Patton said that while there had not been an increase recorded in the number of assaults, police were preparing for such an outcome, and had already experienced an increase in reporting by third parties.

“People are at home and hearing raised voices and the like,” he said. “Our intelligence tells us it’s clear we are going to see a spike in family violence offending during this period.”